 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-10-22 13:04
Am looking at purchasing one of the plastic contra altos and was wondering what opinions there were on the two plastic Selmer and LeBlanc contra altos. What seems to be the better horn? Has anyone tried the BBb plastic LeBlanc contra bass and what do you think? Is the BBb a better instrument to get in terms of gigs?
Eefer guy
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-10-22 14:00
EEb contra is far more useful as you can play straight off concert pitch bass clef parts - change the bass clef to treble clef (leaving all the notes in the same place they are on the stave), take three flats/add three sharps and adjust the accidentals as you find them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Don Gross
Date: 2008-10-22 22:59
The answer is "neither." Go to eBay and start looking at vintage Selmer Bundy contra alto clarinets. They can be had for under $1,000 in very good condition. I have done A/B comparisons of my vintage Selmer Bundy contra alto with Selmer rosewood contra altos of my colleagues who play professionally in the studios in Los Angles and in high level amateur wind ensembles in Southern California, and unless you're making your living in the recording studios, give the Bundy a try. I think you'll be pleasantly suprised.
Don Gross
Contrabass/Contra Alto Clarinets - Los Angeles Clarinet Choir, Claremont Winds, Cal State Los Angeles Wind Ensemble.
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Author: blazian
Date: 2008-10-22 22:59
I'm an advocate of the EEb contras because of the above reasons and that they are less of a hassle to transport. Even though they may be a single, long body, they can be broken down into two pieces and put in a smaller case (though it may not be a good idea).
Between LeBlanc and Selmer Contras, I choose Selmers for their clearer, more flexible sound and easier range. I thought the LeBlanc was a bit beefier but harder to play.
- Martin
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-10-23 00:39
Thanks for your input!
Just missed out on buying a pretty rosewood Selmer contra alto so I've been shopping around. I have a low C Buffet Presige bass so I was wondering if the EEb contra alto, with only a few notes lower, would be worth the difference, despite the ability to read the bass line parts transposed.
I like the sound of the contra alto better and was under the impression that it projected better. One of my friends played the Bundy in high school and was in all state and All Eastern America bands and I liked the sound of that horn. She did use a Selmer mouthpiece.
Am a little scared of eBay for this because of the problem with adjustments but maybe I'm being a wimp!
Eefer guy
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Author: Wes
Date: 2008-10-23 04:29
The Bundy contra is a great buy for about $800. While it is possible to disconnect the center joint using an allen wrench, it does not seem to be a good idea because of alignment on assembly.
One clarinet expert undercut the toneholes on a Bundy contra and improved it's resonance a little. It sounds quite good as is, however, and the Selmer C* mouthpiece works fine.
One I saw purchased on ebay had some roughness in the upper section bore most likely due to never being wiped out. The buyer liked the darkness of the sound but I thought it was just a little unfocussed.
Some people have used the Bundy in "real book" jazz sessions, playing from the Eb book.
The only small negative is the lack of a vent on the first finger LH to help the third register notes but it should not be a factor in the buy decision.
Good Luck!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-10-23 05:46
>> so I was wondering if the EEb contra alto, with only
>> a few notes lower, would be worth the difference
If you want/need a contra alto for the purpose Chris mentioned, or you want/need to read contra alto parts, or you think the extra four notes and (slightly) different sound are worth it, then it's worth it. Just consider that when you have an instrument that isn't as good as another one usually it's not that much fun to play, especially if it's mostly similar to your bass. Another thing is that I don't conside the extra four notes and slightly different tone worth it considering I'd have to carry another big case, but maybe that's not an issue for you.
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Author: clarionman
Date: 2008-10-23 14:17
About 3 or 4 months ago I bought a new Selmer contra alto from the woodwind and brasswind. I was pleasantly surprise on how well the instrument plays. I was able to get to the high register effortlessly. I about 2 weeks ago I had the opportunity to play the instrument in an clarinet choir and the instruments was in tune and blended very well with the rest of the ensemble. I think this instrument for the price is a very good horn. Since this instrument is not your average instrument they are never in stock. It took about 4 to 6 weeks after I order the instrument to get it. As I said before I got it from the wwbw but weinermusic has the same horn for about 100.00 dollars less.
The only negatives about the horn is as Wes mention is the lack of a vent on the first finger LH to help the third register notes. Also the case is very long. I have a 2009 Toyota Camry and it barely fits on the back seats. If the case was an inch longer it would not fit. So transportation is a little bit of a problem. Since the case is a one piece body I had to buy a bar stool and adjust the legs so I could play it in a comfortable position.
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Author: LCL
Date: 2008-10-23 14:44
In 1991, I bought a Vito (Leblanc) BBb Contra-bass, which I sold in 1997, because the case was just too long since the horn was one-piece and you had to sit on a stool to play it. I own a Leblanc "paperclip" that I bought at a fantastically low price in late 1992 and found it a better fit than the Vito.
In 2000, I bought a "used" Selmer Rosewood EEb Contra-alto that I find beats everything I mentioned above in terms of power, tone, timber, and flexibility. I had resonators added in 2005, which further enhanced an already beautiful sounding instrument and replaced the Selmer C* mpc with a Grabner mpc. that is absolutely fantastic. I use a planed-down #2 Legere Bari Sax reed or a Rico #3 planed-down Contra-alto. I'm playing this set-up now in our community band and it blends well with the ensemble.
When playing my bass clarinet next to a Bundy contra-alto, I did not find that the quality of the sound I heard from the contra-alto matched the qualities I described above, although it was in the hands of a student and the reed and instrument were not in good repair. I do think that a Bundy reconditioned by an expert like Dave S. et al' would be a wonderful buy!
Best regards,
LCL
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-10-24 13:35
In 2004, I bought a used, plastic 1980s Selmer Bundy contra-alto from Jim Lande, who'd kept it in excellent condition. I play it with a Selmer C* mouthpiece. I'm an amateur, not an expert, but I'm pretty picky -- and delighted with that combination of instrument and mouthpiece. The instrument is reasonably free-blowing given its size. Its intonation is excellent compared to that of other contra-altos I tried and the tone quality remains consistent throughout the range. As a hobbyist musician, I couldn't have justified going out and spending what it takes to buy a top pro instrument brand-new, even if I'd had buckets of spare money lying around; but as it turns out, I don't think I sacrificed anything by buying a used, plastic instrument. That's a good clarinet.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2008-10-24 13:40)
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2008-10-24 14:56
Thank you all for your opinions. A friend and I have written each other back and forth over the pros and cons and I have decided on buying the BBb LeBlanc because it will add significantly more to my range and will be a high quality professional horn. Unfortunately, it is a bit of a wait for this horn. No one seems to have it in stock. And maybe buy the Selmer USA contra alto as a little Xmas present to myself. Just got a royalty check so am feeling rich!That way I'd have one of every clarinet. My own private clarinet choir! Also it sounds as though for a Selmer USA instrument, this is one of their better horns. My friend that played it in high school did make nice music with it and made all-state and all Eastern USA on it (and eventually the Navy Band). I have been asked to play alto and contra alto in the past so it might improve my gigs too.
Again many thanks for all of your opinions. This is why this forum is so valuable. Where could you ever get so many experienced opinions on any subject?
Eefer guy
Post Edited (2008-10-29 11:03)
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